Babel: Translating the Middle East
Analysis: LGBTQ+ Advocacy in the Middle East Backfires
Jun 20, 2023
Will Todman, Middle East LGBTQ+ advocate, discusses how Western LGBTQ+ advocacy in the Middle East can have negative consequences. They explore the rise of homophobia in the region and the potential exploitation of homophobia by political or religious leaders. The podcast also examines Western support for the LGBTQ+ community in the Middle East and the consequences of public external support.
06:05
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Quick takeaways
- LGBTQ+ advocacy from the West in the Middle East can make local communities feel more vulnerable and expose them to potential exploitation by political and religious leaders.
- Western actors supporting LGBTQ+ communities in the Middle East should focus on empowering local LGBTQ+ groups and holding security services accountable to avoid aggravating intolerance and pushing the community further into hiding.
Deep dives
The Importance of Listening to Local LGBTQ+ Activists
While Peter Tachil's public LGBTQ+ protest in Qatar received praise from Western audiences, local activists expressed shock and voiced their concerns. Despite being warned by LGBTQ+ community members in the MENA region not to proceed, Tachil went ahead with his protest. This raised concerns among local activists as it can thrust LGBT individuals in the Middle East into the spotlight, making them feel more vulnerable. It is crucial for Western actors advocating for LGBTQ+ rights in the region to listen to the needs and desires of the local communities, as political and religious leaders may try to exploit homophobia for political or religious gain, and portray LGBTQ+ advocacy from the West as a foreign agenda.
